In truth, this is not a war against terror. I believe our true war is one against extremism.

Here's why it's a smart frame, and I believe we can change the war to this meme with concerted effort and consistency.

The people that attacked us on Sep 11, were extremists. They have militant views bolstered by an extreme interpretation of the Koran.

The people who ran Afghanistan on 9/11 were extremists, also using their extreme views and extreme interpretation of the Koran to micromanage every Afghani citizen's life.

Kim Jong Il has an extreme view of his own importance, and has brainwashed his population to have the same extreme jingoist perceptions.

Iran's mullahs also run their country through an extreme interpretation of the Koran. The Wahabbi off Saudi Arabia wield ridiculous power through their extreme interpretation of the Koran.

Note that I say these are extreme interpretations of the Koran, and though I am repeating myself, it is clear that the emphasis is on the interpretation angle, not the fact that it's the Koran. This is a way of talking about this scourge without denigrating Islam, or whatever the convenient "cause" for these extremists happens to be.

Just so happens that Islamic youth are down, and religion is a convenient way to control people. Terrorists, extremist thugs, are nothing better than gang leaders, taking advantage of young disenfranchised people with the promise off respect. And that is sick.

Chechnian rebels, while Muslim, identify more with the liberation angle of their struggle. Islam is a convenient motivator for their worldwide sympathizers. The rebels have an extreme view of what's acceptable in the political world of negotiation. They use terrorism as a tactic.

Putin has now responded by taking extreme steps to control his government, and further insulate it from influence by the Chechen rebels, and his massive public relations problem.

Anything, taken to an extreme is bad for health and community. Eating, exercise, religion, sex, consumerism, spirituality... anything can go from neutral/good to bad/harmful/unhealthy.

Extremism manifests itself everywhere, but is usually harmful only on a personal level. Unfortunately, one of the more public displays of extremism has grown from religions. All religions have an extreme element, and it is the responsibility of the religious leadership to keep extremists in check. Islamic leaders in the Middle East have failed in this regard. To a lesser extent, Islamic leaders have also failed in Asia, the Southern Pacific, Europe, Northern Africa, and North America.

In America, Christian leaders have failed our country miserably, allowing their thirst for power through government and community control to trump the fight against reason, science, bigotry, and hate. In the womb of their extreme sermons and teachings has grown a bastard interpretation of the Bible which has overtaken American government and policy.

Jewish leadership has failed to keep Israel in check at times, and failed to lead Israel to a reasonable and fair balance of civility with Palestine. Palestine's Islamic leaders have failed to lead their people to an equitable solution with Israel, preferring the cheap politics of hate fueled by religious fervor, over the rational negotiation of what is, essentially, a land dispute in the court of common law.

George Bush is an extremist. He believes in an extreme interpretation of the Bible, and, though his lip service belies it, he does not allow for alternate perceptions. He is right, what is there to discuss? Have we not seen this over and over again?

Bush's extremism bleeds beyond the borders of his Bible. His extremism manifests itself in a black-or-white view of the world. In his high-contrast vision, he cannot and will not entertain the idea that one can be strong and nuanced, powerful and sensitive. The amazing NYT article this weekend confirms this, though we've known all along that Bush is an extremist.

I say it's time for Kerry to really pump up the message. He needs to say that Bush is wrong, yet again. Because of Bush's tunnel vision, he is unable to see the wider threat to America and all civilization. Bush has failed once again, and it's nothing that can be cured by his staff or mitigation time in a second term. Bush's fundamental philosophies are the reason he can't win the war.

Because it's not a war on terror. It's a war on extremism.

And in the meantime, all he's done is create more terror and allow the terrorists to control our policy by proxy. The Patriot act, the use of 9/11 as a campaign prop, the Iraq debacle... ALL have played exactly into the hands of the terrorists. Bush can't help but abet them because he is one of them. Just a different shade.

But he can't tell, because he is looking for black or white in the whole matter.

John Kerry, please redefine this war!!! It is a war on extremism.